the longer the white house walks this process, the closer our economy gets to the fiscal cliff. >> reporter: and the president argues that he outlined spending cuts in his last budget proposal, more than $550 billion worth. they're still on the table. negotiations will continue later today. josh? >> as that cliff looms. jake tapper, thank you for that. >>> meanwhile, calling it a big step, president obama has announced the u.s. will recognize syria's main opposition group as the country's legitimate representative. it's the latest move to force dictator bashar al assad from power. >>> meanwhile, here at home, a natural gas explosion near charleston, west virginia, set off the fire you see here. it scorched a busy highway, destroyed at least four homes. several people were rushed to the hospital because of heavy smoke inhalation. but no one was seriously hurt. no word on why the 20-inch gas line exploded. >>> meanwhile, new claims this morning that fedex may have been overcharging its customers and doing it for years. internal e-mails recently made public for a lawsuit show a sales executive